In African countries, there has been little effort to conserve the local chicken breeds or lines, despite their hardiness and value as a protein source for rural households. Even though these chickens are resistant to disease, they are associated with low productivity. Any improvement in the productivity of local chickens would require close attention to nutritional, breeding and health aspects.
This review provides a detailed understanding of the description, uses, and conservation methods of local chicken breeds of Africa. Several studies have been conducted on the nutritional requirements of local chickens, but the results were inconclusive and contradictory. This review concludes that local chickens play a significant role in improving livelihoods, and strategies to preserve and sustain them must be intensified.
Indigenous chickens (Gallus domesticus) are chickens that are adapted to harsh environmental conditions that include extensive small-scale village, free-range and organic production systems. Sometimes such chickens are referred to as traditional, scavenging, backyard, village, local or family chickens.
In this review, the term local chickens is used. The local chicken production system, which is mostly free-range (extensive), can best be described as a low input−low output system. The variations in local chickens mostly comprise plumage colour, body size, feather patterns, comb types and shank colour. In literature, local chicken populations are often described and grouped according to geographical location or phenotypic characteristics, while their classification into breeds or types is limited.
Only a few of them have been classified into ecospecies based on their characteristics. Throughout the world, numerous indigenous or local chickens have been reported. Naked neck chickens with normal frizzle feathers are reported to be found in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Southern Africa. Whereas large Baladi and Betwil have been reported as local chickens in Sudan. Venda, Koekoek and Ovambo chickens have been described as dominant local chickens with Ovambo originating from northern part of Namibia.
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Numerous studies have shown that local chickens play a key role in improving the socio-economic status of many rural communities. However, poor housing, lack of coordinated disease control mechanisms, poor feeding and the absence of conservation strategies are some of the challenges facing local chicken production systems in Africa. Parasitism in the intestines of local chickens is another problem and results in low weight gain and poor carcass quality.
Despite these challenges, local chickens are a source of income and protein to resource-limited local marginal communities in developing countries. Local chickens are preferred over exotic chicken breeds because of their succulent meat. They also sell at a cheaper price. Hence, the demand for local chicken products (eggs and meat) is high. It is estimated that local chickens constitute 80% of poultry production in sub-Saharan countries, with Nigeria known to have the highest number of local chickens with an estimated population of 180 million.
As for their production quality, local chickens can lay 20 to 80 eggs per year, which is very low compared with commercial breeds that can lay up to 300 eggs per year. Nutritional deficiency and low genetic potential are some of the factors influencing the low production of eggs. Hence, genetic material must be improved to enhance productive efficiency.
Overall, local chicken farming in southern African countries remains at a developing stage. Thus, regardless of their importance, local chickens have received little attention in terms of improving their production rates. Many researchers from African countries have addressed the challenges related to improved nutritional management and genetic upgradation of local chicken, but there is limited information on how improvement at these levels can enhance performance.
Therefore, conservation decision-making should look at traits of scientific or economic importance, adaptation to a specific environment, the historical or cultural importance of the species and the degree of extinction. Whether the process of conservation should be carried out within (in-situ) or away (ex-situ) from natural habitats would depend on the conservation objectives.
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It is believed that the local chickens of Africa originated from South-East Asia, China, and India. Local chickens are hardy and can adapt to local conditions better than other breeds because of their ability to withstand harsh climatic conditions due to their typical genetic development. Further to this, they also possess a strong ability to anticipate danger and act quickly.
These traits make them strong enough to survive and produce in an unfavourable environment. Local poultry husbandry is, to a large extent, associated with resource-poor farmers who keep the chickens under extensive systems. Village chickens are among the most adaptable domestic species with an ability to survive in cold or warm and wet or dry conditions, sheltered in cages or unsheltered outside or roosting on tree tops.
The fowl found in the rural areas of Southern Africa are mostly named and classified based on their phenotype and geographical location. However, most rural communities do not commercialise free-range chicken production. Local chickens are mostly raised as part of mixed farming in extensive systems and, to a lesser degree, in semi-intensive systems. Backyard local chickens provide rural communities with a means of converting available feed resources around the household or village into highly nutritious products such as meat and eggs.
The reason for most poor rural communities to keep local chickens is for religious purposes, food security, and socio-economic and cultural considerations. Farmers in these areas consider chickens as their primary source of domestic animal protein. Village poultry production has the capacity to improve food security, assist in poverty reduction and mitigate the adverse economic impacts of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) on the locals.
A complex interaction of biological, socio-economic, cultural, and agro-technical factors is the reason why these communities do not commercialise free-range chicken production. For example, lack of household training in poultry management, veterinary support, feeding practices and the use of improved indigenous breeds play a role in rural farmers failing to practise commercial farming.
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Local or indigenous chickens have the highest rate of variation of population types among chicken species. In African countries, such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Ethiopia, Southern Africa etc., local chickens are characterised by a great variation observed in morphological characteristics and production parameters.
Most African local chickens have a distinguished plumage pigmentation whereby some tend to have blackish and brownish colours showing extended and pied colourations with normal plumage distribution whereas some chickens have special forms such as naked neck frizzle and silkiness. Regarding body weight, some tend to be dwarfs, heavy or normal. Mostly, the comb of local chickens is single with crest present.
Normally, differences on morphological characteristics of local chickens are due to different climatic conditions. Local chickens from hot climatic conditions are characterised by large single comb, naked neck and frizzle feathers, which allow efficient heat regulation. Whereas local chickens from cold climates are characterized by a lot of feathers covering their body and this helps with insulation and protection against losing body heat.
Most African countries consist of the following indigenous chickens breeds: the Naked Neck, the Ovambo chicken, the Potchefstroom Koekoek, and the Boschveld and Venda chickens. Around 84% of the households in Lesotho’s rural areas depend on native chicken production for food security and income generation.
Here are some notable South African chicken breeds:
- The African Naked Neck
- The Ovambo chicken
- The Potchefstroom Koekoek
- The Boschveld
- The Venda chickens
The African Naked Neck
The African Naked Neck is thought to have originated in Malaysia and two types exist. The first is considered purebred with a complete naked neck, while the second is regarded as not purebred with the front part of the neck having a tassel. Indigenous chickens with total naked necks are the result of mating between two tasselled birds.
Naked Neck chickens have single red combs with a large wattle. They are characterised by reddish bay eyes and red earlobes. The average weight of roosters and hens ranges between 1.5-3.5 and 1.1-3 kg, respectively. The Naked Neck breed can produce up to 138.9 eggs annually, while the hens tend to produce their first egg at 129 days.
Naked Neck chicken breeds. Source: [42].
Venda Chickens
Venda chickens are a distinctive multicoloured breed with white, black, and red as the dominant colours. These breeds are named after their origin, and they were discovered by veterinarian Dr Naas Coetzee while he was doing research in Venda in the Limpopo province, South Africa, in 1979. Later on, similar chickens were seen in the southern Cape and in Qwaqwa.
These chickens are large and lay large, tinted eggs. The average weight of the cockerels...
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Potchefstroom Koekoek
The Potchefstroom Koekoek is a South African breed of chicken developed in the 1960s at the Potchefstroom Agricultural College in the city of Potchefstroom by Chris Marais. The breed was intended as a dual purpose, free ranging chicken with laying capabilities as well as a large structure for meat production. Pure Koekoeks have a black-and-white barred appearance, with the chicks sexable soon after hatching due to distinct sex markings.
Potchefstroom Koekoek Chicken
Boschveld Chicken
The Boschveld chicken is an excellent breed. One do get boschvelders that are very similar in colour to the venda and when we show with them, many will show boschvelders as venda's, where the colours allow one to do so.
Many people in South Africa are actively involved in raising chickens, with a focus on breeds like the Potchefstroom Koekoek. This breed is favored for its dual purpose, providing both eggs and meat, making it a valuable asset for small-scale farmers and rural communities.
Table: Comparison of South African Chicken Breeds
| Breed | Origin | Purpose | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked Neck | Malaysia | Eggs and Meat | Naked neck, red comb, reddish bay eyes |
| Venda | Limpopo, South Africa | Eggs and Meat | Multicoloured (white, black, red), large size |
| Potchefstroom Koekoek | Potchefstroom, South Africa | Eggs and Meat | Black-and-white barred appearance |
| Boschveld | South Africa | Eggs and Meat | Similar in color to Venda |
